Cranberry variety named ‘CNJ99-9-96’

ABSTRACT

A new cranberry variety distinguished by mid-season ripening, round to ovate fruit, high productivity, and moderate fruit anthocyanin development, as compared to the currently cultivated commercial varieties.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Vacciniummacrocarpon Ait.

Variety denomination: ‘CNJ99-9-96’.

BACKGROUND

The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) is a temperate,woody perennial plant species native to North America. The United Statesis the largest producer, with Wisconsin and Massachusetts representingthe majority of cranberry acreage and production, followed by NewJersey, Oregon and Washington. Varieties that currently are commerciallycultivated include selections from native populations, and first andsecond breeding and selection cycle hybrids. Significant acreage isstill devoted to varieties that were selected from native cranberrypopulations from as far back as 1843, including ‘Ben Lear’ (unpatented),‘Early Black’ (unpatented), ‘Howes’ (unpatented), ‘Lemunyon’(unpatented), ‘McFarlin’ (unpatented) and ‘Searles’ (unpatented). Firstbreeding and selection hybrid varieties were developed by the UnitedStates Department of Agriculture, in cooperation with state AgriculturalExperiment Stations in the 1940's, and the program released a series ofunpatented varieties in the 1950's including the most widely growncultivar ‘Stevens’, which was selected from original test plots inPemberton, N.J. During the 2000-2010 decade, patented and unpatentedvarieties from a second breeding and selection cycles have beenintroduced and grown commercially.

The bulk of cranberry production is for the processed market, includingboth juice and ‘sweetened dried cranberry’ (SDC) fruit products, wherefruit having specific anthocyanin content (TAcy) ranges are desired. ForSDC processors, certain fruit quality criteria are desired, includinglarger fruit size (>1.5 g/berry), a round fruit shape, mid-range TAcy,moderate to high titratable acidity (TA, 2.3-2.5 citric acidequivalents), and high soluble solids (Brix). Another importantcranberry market is fresh fruit, where berry appearance and storage lifeare essential traits. For economic sustainability, cranberry growersrequire varieties with consistent high productivity, acceptable levelsof disease tolerance to both fruit and vine diseases, and desired seasonof harvest.

In cranberry, varietal variation for crop productivity is a function ofinherent differences among varieties for traits such as stolon vigor,upright (vertical reproductive shoots) density, inflorescence budproduction, fruit set and fruit size. Varieties with high stolon vigorwill establish more rapidly and reduce the number of years required toachieve maximal production. However, after stolon colonization of thebed, varieties must transition to optimal sexual reproduction mode, andoptimal upright density, to achieve high crop production. Cranberryinflorescence bud primordia are set on uprights during the completion ofthe fruit development period and overwinter in a dormant state, beforeresuming growth the subsequent spring. Thus, the crop load of a givenyear, may impact the subsequent year's cropping, contributing to thepronounced biennial bearing habit common to many varieties. Productivityis also subject to environmental effects, e.g., heat and light intensitystresses, cold (frost) stress, water stress (drought and excess),disease, insects, certain pesticides, etc.

TAcy content is a fruit quality component of cranberry, usually having aminimum acceptable value. TAcy is typically measured as mg of totalanthocyanin per 100 g fresh weight fruit, using a standardspectrophotometric method (@ 520 nm absorbance). For SDC products, thereis a desired range, minimum and maximum, for TAcy, typically 20-40 mgtotal anthocyanins/100 g fresh weight. Earlier ripening varieties, whichtypically have higher TAcy, allow for earlier harvest of a crop.Anthocyanins are largely located in the fruit epidermis, which resultsin a generally larger fruit having lower TAcy.

New Jersey uniquely offers an ideal environment for cranberry breedingbecause of the climate, soils and water. Of all the cranberry productionareas in North America, New Jersey conditions subject the cranberry tothe highest disease pressure and heat stresses. The plant and developingfruit must tolerate high heat stress, and fruit and vegetative diseasesduring the growing season. Over 15 pathogens are known to incitecranberry fruit rot in New Jersey, and the fruit is also subject to heatscald and physiological breakdown. Thus, selection under New Jerseyconditions offers the opportunity to identify varieties with higherresistance to disease, scald, and heat stress.

The Rutgers University cranberry breeding program, in Chatsworth, N.J.,was initiated in 1985 to take advantage of this unique selectionpressure. The program's methods were designed to duplicate, as much aspossible, the environment of a commercial bed. Breeding plots of 1.5×1.5m are established with multiple plants and allowed to ‘fill in’ to forma dense canopy. Two to three years after planting, yield of a given plotis evaluated over a four year minimum to provide for biennial bearingassessment. Parental selection is based on field phenotypic performance,and progeny performance of parental cross combinations based on theobjectives of enhancing traits and/or combining the most desirabletraits from both parents into one genotype, i.e., variety. Traitsevaluated in this cranberry breeding program include yield, ripeningseason, fruit rot susceptibility/resistance, storage life, scaldsusceptibility, stolon and upright vigor, total anthocyanin content(TAcy), soluble solids (Brix), titratable acidity, and berry shape andappearance.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to a new and distinctive Americancranberry variety, ‘CNJ99-9-96’, for the processed cranberry market,having a high crop yield potential, a mid-season ripening period, around to ovate berry. ‘CNJ99-9-96’ is suited to most areas wherecranberry is cultivated. The new disclosed variety ‘CNJ99-9-96’ resultedfrom a 1999 cross between the variety ‘NJS98-23’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.18,252) as the seed parent, with the ‘#35’ (unpatented) variety as thepollen parent. ‘#35’ is an unpatented variety from a ‘Howes×Searles’cross. ‘#35’ was originally selected from a previous USDA/NJAEScranberry breeding program (Dana MN. Cranberry cultivar list (Vacciniummacrocarpon). Fruit Varieties J 37:88-95, 1983).

‘CNJ99-9-96’ was originally selected from 138 progeny growing in testplots in Chatsworth, N.J. for its very high yield potential, mid-seasonripening, large round berry and uniform fruit color. In 2007,‘CNJ99-9-96’ was selected for testing in advanced replicated selectiontrials in Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin. ‘CNJ99-9-96’ exhibitsconsistently high yields with mid-season ripening. Although originallyselected under New Jersey's environmental stresses, ‘CNJ99-9-96’ issuited to most cranberry growing areas.

The ‘CNJ99-9-96’ variety is distinguished from other cranberry varietiesin having high yield fruit production with midseason ripening. Fruit aremoderate to large with a nearly round shape. ‘CNJ99-9-96’ can bedistinguished from its seed parent ‘NJS98-23’ by its later bloom, laterfruit ripening, and rounder fruit shape; and from its pollen parent‘#35’ by higher Tacy, earlier bloom, earlier ripening and larger fruit.

‘CNJ99-9-96’ has been asexually reproduced by cuttings in Chatsworth,N.J. since 2007. Over that period, no evidence of ‘off-types’ of‘CNJ99-9-96’ has been observed. ‘CNJ99-9-96’ appears genetically stableand reproduces true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

The following description describes the cranberry variety ‘CNJ99-9-96’.The original plant and vegetative propagules were observed in acranberry bed maintained with standard management practices forcommercial cranberry production in Chatsworth, Burlington County, N.J.Certain characteristics of this variety, such as growth and color, maychange with changing environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature,moisture, nutrient availability, or other factors). Color descriptionsand other terminology are used in accordance with their ordinarydictionary descriptions, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.Color designations are made with reference to The Royal HorticulturalSociety (R.H.S.) Colour Chart (2001).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows ‘CNJ99-9-96’ fruit harvested and photographed September2014 in Chatsworth, N.J.

The colors of an illustration of this type may vary with lighting andother conditions, therefore, color characteristics of this new varietyshould be determined with reference to the observations describedherein, rather than from these illustrations alone.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description of the ‘CNJ99-9-96’ variety is basedon observations of plants growing in the field in Chatsworth, N.J. Thecharacteristics of the variety were compared to ‘Stevens’ and ‘Ben Lear’(both unpatented), two widely used cranberry varieties. The observedplantings were 3-6 years of age.

-   Scientific name: Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.-   Parentage:    -   -   Seed parent.—The variety ‘NJS98-23’ (derived from a ‘Ben            Lear’×‘Stevens’ cross).        -   Pollen parent.—The variety ‘#35’ (derived from a            ‘Howes’×‘Searles’ cross).-   Plant:    -   -   Vigor.—General observations of ‘CNJ99-9-96’ plantings            indicate average plant vigor.        -   Growth habit.—Trailing shrub with very slender stems.        -   Upright length.—8.1 cm (mean of 30 uprights).        -   Stem diameter.—1.2 mm at base of current year's growth (mean            of 30 stems).        -   Internodes.—Internode length was 9 mm on 1-year old runners            (mean of 15 runners).        -   Productivity.—In established test plots in Chatsworth, N.J.,            ‘CNJ99-9-96’ yields were greater than ‘Stevens’ and ‘Ben            Lear’.        -   Hardiness.—Zones 4-7 (from USDA Misc. Publ. 814).        -   Disease resistance.—No disease resistance data available for            foliar or root pathogens; no unusual propensity to            foliar/stem diseases observed.-   Leaves: The length, width and other measurements were obtained from    observations of 30 typical fully developed leaves in September 2013.    Color was determined on actively growing plants.    -   -   Texture.—Coriaceous (leathery) on upper and lower surfaces.        -   Length.—Mean of 9.9 mm, with a maximum 12.2 mm.        -   Width.—Mean of 3.8 mm, with a maximum width of 5.5 mm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic (2.6:1; length:width).        -   Apex shape.—Rounded.        -   Base shape.—Rounded, nearly sessile.        -   Margin.—Entire, slightly revolute.        -   Leaf color.—Upper leaf surface color ranges from bright            green (143C, green group) in new growth to deep green in            mature leaves (139A to 137C, green group).        -   Pubescence.—Non-glandular trichomes found along leaf margins            towards leaf apex.-   Flowers: Observations are from 10 typical flowers collected from    test plots in Chatsworth, N.J., Jun. 18, 2014.    -   -   Size and shape.—Slender, nodding flowers on erect pedicels            and in clusters of typically 3-6 flowers; corolla long-conic            in bud, petals fully reflexed and divided nearly to the base            when open.        -   Unopened corolla.—Approximately 8 mm long and deep pink in            color (70D, red-purple group).        -   Opened flower.—Measuring about 10 mm across, 4 petals per            flower.        -   Petals.—Narrow and revolute in shape, 8.9 mm by 2.7 mm; pale            pink in color (69C, red-purple group); glabrous texture on            upper and lower surfaces.        -   Pedicel.—18.4 mm in length by 0.75 mm in diameter with a            pubescent texture; color ranges from pale green (195D,            greyed green group) to pink (red group 48C).        -   Bloom season.—Bloom typically begins in early June and            continues throughout the month. Flowering phenology for            ‘CNJ99-9-96’ is similar to ‘Stevens’, with peak bloom            typically occurring between June 10 and 17 in New Jersey.        -   Mean number of flowers per upright.—4.8 (n=10).-   Fruit: Observations are from 30 typical fruit harvested from test    plots in Chatsworth, N.J. Sep. 18, 2013 and Oct. 5, 2014.    -   -   Shape.—Very widely ovate to round (FIG. 1); fruit            length:width ratio of 1:1 to 1.2:1; calyx end slightly            indented to flat with unpronounced calyx lobes (FIG. 1).        -   Size.—In NJ, average size was 1.77 cm long (pedicel            end-calyx end) and 1.7 cm wide.        -   Skin.—Shiny, slight waxy bloom around calyx (FIG. 1),            otherwise with slight scattered waxy bloom.        -   Color.—Ranged from 46C (red group) for the lightest berries,            185A (greyed-purple group) for medium berries, to N186C            (greyed-purple group) for the darkest (harvested fall 2014).        -   Stem pit.—Small and slightly indented 1.5 mm in diameter.        -   Average weight.—50 berry samples collected from test plots            in 2007-2010 had yearly mean berry weights ranging from 1.8            g to 2.4 g, with a maximum berry weight of 3.2 g.        -   Fruit firmness.—Very firm.        -   Number of seeds.—Mean seed number per fruit was 16; with a            maximum of 45 seeds/fruit observed.-   Seeds: Observations are from 10 seeds extracted from typical fruit    harvested from test plots in Chatsworth, N.J., October 2015.    -   -   Size.—2.2 mm in length by 1.3 mm in width.        -   Shape.—An oval that is slightly triangular and with            elongated pointed ends.        -   Color.—165b (greyed orange group, R.H.S.).        -   Texture.—Striated.        -   Fruit chemistry.—100 g samples of fruit were harvested each            year from test plots in Chatsworth, N.J. and evaluated for            fruit chemistry. TAcy in early-mid September ‘CNJ99-9-96’            (12 mg/100 g FW), is less than ‘Ben Lear’ (24 mg/100 g FW)            and greater than ‘Stevens’ (5 mg/100 g FW). ‘CNJ99-9-96’ had            titratable acidity values ranging from 2.0% to 2.6%, and            Brix values of 7.5% mid-Sept to 9.0% late-Sept-Oct.        -   Fruit production.—‘CNJ99-9-96’ season is mid-season,            ripening after early varieties (e.g., ‘Ben Lear’,            ‘NJS98-23’), and before later season varieties (‘Stevens’            and ‘CNJ97-105-4’; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,434).        -   Usage.—Most suitable for processed cranberry products and            fresh fruit.        -   Disease resistance.—In New Jersey, where disease pressure is            severe, and in Wisconsin, ‘CNJ99-9-96’ typically has less            fruit rot (a disease complex of over 15 pathogens, primarily            Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Physalospora vaccinii,            Phyllosticta vaccinii, Phomopsis vaccinii, and Coleophoma            empetri) than ‘Stevens’.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of cranberry plant,substantially as herein shown and described.